Matthew 12:46

Matthew 12:46 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
• English Standard Version (ESV)While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)While He was still talking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers stood outside, seeking to speak with Him.
• New Living Translation (NLT)As Jesus was speaking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.

Context of Matthew 12:46

44Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.” While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?”

Matthew 12:46 word by word

Ἔτι αὐτοῦ λαλοῦντος τοῖς ὄχλοις ἰδοὺ ἡ μήτηρ καὶ οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ εἱστήκεισαν ἔξω ζητοῦντες αὐτῷ λαλῆσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·δέde · thenG1161
• Whileλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
• heαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• yetἔτιeti · stillG2089
• to the peopleὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• to the peopleὄχλοςochlos · crowdG3793
• beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
• motherμήτηρmētēr · motherG3384
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
• stoodἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
• withoutἔξωexō · out/outside(r)G1854
• desiringζητέωzēteō · to seekG2212

Cross-references for Matthew 12:46

• Mark 2:21“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
• Mark 3:31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.
• Luke 8:10He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’
• Matthew 13:55“Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?
• Mark 6:3Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
• John 2:12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
• John 7:3Jesus’ brothers said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.
• Acts 1:14They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
• 1 Corinthians 9:5Don’t we have the right to take a believing wife along with us, as do the other apostles and the Lord’s brothers and Cephas?
• Galatians 1:19I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother.

Commentaries on Matthew 12:46

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 46His mother and his brethren - These are supposed to have been the cousins of our Lord, as the word brother is frequently used among the Hebrews in this sense. But there are others who believe Mary had other children beside our Lord and that these were literally his brothers, who are spoken of here. And, although it be possible that these were the sons of Mary, the wife of Cleopas or Alpheus, his mother's sister, called his relations, Mark 3:31; yet it is…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 46-50Verses 46-50 See also Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:19-21. His brethren - There has been some difference of opinion about the persons who are referred to here, some supposing that they were children of Mary his mother, others that they were the children of Mary, the wife of Cleophas or Alpheus, his “cousins,” and called “brethren” according to the customs of the Jews. The natural and obvious meaning is, however, that they were the children of Mary his mother. See…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 46-50Verses 46-50 Christ's preaching was plain, easy, and familiar, and suited to his hearers. His mother and brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him, when they should have been standing within, desiring to hear him. Frequently, those who are nearest to the means of knowledge and grace are most negligent. We are apt to neglect that which we think we may have any day, forgetting that to-morrow is not ours. We often meet with hinderances in our work…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4646. While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren--(See on Mt 13:55, 56). stood without, desiring to speak with him--"and could not come at Him for the press" (Lu 8:19). For what purpose these came, we learn from Mr 3:20, 21. In His zeal and ardor He seemed indifferent both to food and repose, and "they went to lay hold of Him" as one "beside Himself." Mark (Mr 3:32) says graphically, "And the multitude sat about Him"--or "around…Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 12:46

• Mary
• Parents

In the dictionaries

• Adulterous
• Brother
• Condemn
• Desolation
• Idle
• Judgment
• Mary
• Restore
• Sin
• Wither

Commentaries on Matthew 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings